Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Future minimum annual payments under operating lease agreements [Abstract]
2014	$ 1,841
2015	1,887
2016	1,934
2017	1,983
2018	2,032
Thereafter	4,218
Total	13,895
Rental expense	3,548	2,074	3,475
Adjustments to rental expense	(164)	(419)	63
Additional facility charges	2,330	2,845	4,033
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
License fees and supply costs	567	1,170	578
Consulting Agreements [Abstract]
Expenses with regard to consulting agreements with scientific specialists	39	8	27
Fair value of options vested included in consulting expenses	7		11
Retirement Agreement [Abstract]
Expenses for termination of employment agreement		1,789
MTS-Related Party Agreement
Consulting agreement monthly retainer amount	55
Success fee	300
Parent Company [Member] | Lonza Sales AG [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	909
Future Commitments	824
Terms	Annual license fee payments, milestones and royalties, as applicable, in respect of oncology and other products.
PSMA Development Company LLC [Member] | Seattle Genetics, Inc. [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	4,400
Future Commitments	13,900
PSMA Development Company LLC [Member] | Amgen Fremont, Inc. (formerly Abgenix) [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	1,350
Future Commitments	5,750
PSMA Development Company LLC [Member] | Former Member of PSMA LLC [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	278
Future Commitments	52,188
Terms	Annual minimum royalty payments and milestones to use technology related to PSMA.
MIP [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	216
Future Commitments	3,453
MIP [Member] | Seattle Genetics, Inc. [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Terms	Milestone and periodic maintenance payments to use ADC technology to link chemotherapeutic agents to monoclonal antibodies that target prostate specific membrane antigen. ADC technology is based in part on technology licensed by SGI from third parties.
MIP [Member] | Amgen Fremont, Inc. (formerly Abgenix) [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Terms	Milestones and royalties to use XenoMouse® technology for generating fully human antibodies to PSMA LLC’s PSMA antigen.
MIP [Member] | Former Member of PSMA LLC [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Terms	Payments for programs to be out-licensed or terminated
MIP [Member] | University of Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	65
Future Commitments	1,225
Terms	Annual maintenance and license fee payments, milestones and royalties in respect of licensed technology related to 1404.
MIP [Member] | University of Western Ontario [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	4
Future Commitments	374
Terms	Annual minimum royalty, administration and milestone payments in respect of licensed technology related to Azedra.
MIP [Member] | Novartis Pharma AG and other interests [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	0
Future Commitments	4,600
Terms	Milestone and royalty payments in respect of licensed technology related to Onalta.
MIP [Member] | Bayer Schering Pharma AG [Member]
Licensing, Service, Supply and Related Party Agreements [Abstract]
Commitments, paid from inception	0
Future Commitments	$ 9,000
Terms	Milestone and royalty payments in respect of licensed technology related to a MIP asset.